Idiot America

How Stupidity Became a Virtue in the Land of the Free

By: Charles P. Pierce

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Length: 9 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

The culture wars are over and the idiots have won. This is a veteran journalist’s caustically funny, righteously angry lament about the glorification of ignorance in the United States.

The three Great Premises of Idiot America: · Any theory is valid if it sells books, soaks up ratings, or otherwise moves units; anything can be true if someone says it loudly enough; "fact" is that which enough people believe. And "truth" is determined by how fervently they believe it.

Charles Pierce has led a career-long quest to separate the smart from the pap, and now it’s time to try and salvage the Land of the Enlightened, buried somewhere in this new Home of the Uninformed. With his razor-sharp wit and erudite reasoning, Pierce delivers a gut-wrenching, side-splitting lament about the glorification of ignorance in the United States and how a country founded on intellectual curiosity has deteriorated into a nation of simpletons more apt to vote for an American Idol contestant than a presidential candidate.

With Idiot America, Pierce’s thunderous denunciation is also a secret call to action, as he hopes that, somehow, being intelligent will stop being a stigma and that pinheads will once again be pitied, not celebrated.

©2009 Charles P. Pierce (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A raucous rant against the armies of the right…. Pierce is at his scathing, insightful best.” ( Boston Globe)

Terrific!

Love Charles Pierce. Startlingly poignant and entertaining. Well read and researched. The only thing better would have been if Bronson narrated it in his "Balki voice."

I am not encouraged

What did you like best about Idiot America? What did you like least?

We actually get a historical look at the dumbing down of America. How certain trends started and grew way out of control.

If you’ve listened to books by Charles P. Pierce before, how does this one compare?

Have not read any others.

Have you listened to any of Bronson Pinchot’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not heard any of his other performances, but this wwas nice. Just the right amount of sarcasm and condescension.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

This is the prequel to Idiocracy.

Written in 2009 but even more true in the age of Trump

Pierce saw the downward spiral coming after Obama's election, with the rise of the Tea Party, Glen Beck and the Creation Museum. His three components of Idiot America are present everywhere today. This is a must read for any educated voter now.

A Stupid Good account of American History

Dinosaur Dressage? Atlantis? American Democracy? The stupid things we sell each other and ourselves. Oi.

Pierce tells it like it is, pulls no punches!

What made the experience of listening to Idiot America the most enjoyable?

A lot of details of American historical figures is revealed, some of which I had not heard before, some of which I heard from other, reliable sources. So, I can't dispute what he says about the people he rants about.

What other book might you compare Idiot America to and why?

This is the first such on this subject I have ever tried, and I found it very entertaining.

What does Bronson Pinchot bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His voice and reading were very expressive and conveyed emotional content very well.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did listen to it all in one sitting, as I commonly do with most audio books. I am a professional driver and am behind the wheel for extended periods of time. Audio books are perfect for keeping me occupied.

Any additional comments?

I wasn't deeply satisfied with the content of the book, the author harps excessively on one particular individual throughout the chapters and this tends to become wearing on my attention. I caught myself wondering why he was obsessed with this one person. But overall, it's a good essay on the Idiot American, and fairly entertaining.

Clever phraseology, boring narrative

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would not. The title promises more than is delivered. The author's attempts at crafting a lens by which "Idiot America" has evolved and responds is clouded by irrelevant rants devoid of any argument deconstruction, and a chronology that wantonly skips back and forth over the last 200 years like your mother's big band records.

Would you ever listen to anything by Charles P. Pierce again?

No

Which scene was your favorite?

Did not have one.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

It's non-fiction - this is a stupid question. Maybe Idiot America is alive and well.

All you need to understand Trump supporters

reveals how the dumbing down of the American electorate was accomplished. This tracks how expertise was replaced by talking heads.

Every zealot should read this book book.

The author points out the obvious flawed justification for a number of cultural phenomenon. Should be required reading (or listening) before being allowed to vote in the next presidential primary.

Loved it!

give this a listen and then buy a copy for your friends and family. Charles Pierce proves again, that, when you are used to believing, you'll believe anything.

Traces how we got from a promising nation to what we are now

This book takes you on a fascinating journey from the beginning of our country to the modern day. It explains how we started as a promising nation and where we went wrong to become A nation of conspiracy theories and alternate facts. You will meet fascinating kooks that started us down this road to the more sinister politicians who helped put our country in our present condition. A real gem! I am so glad I found it.